Meet DPAK @dpak.world

We recently connected with DPAK @dpak.world and have shared our conversation below.

DPAK, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

My confidence didn’t come naturally — in fact, it came from not having it. I was bullied a lot growing up, and as an only child raised by brilliant Indian parents, I didn’t have many confident male role models or examples of bold leadership. Culturally, I came from a background that prized intellect and perfection, but not necessarily charisma or risk-taking. So I had to consciously build that “leadership muscle” myself.

Early on, I realized that if I wanted to achieve my dreams — to be a performer, a leader, someone who inspired others — I couldn’t rely on natural confidence. I had to work for it. I started by noticing how much my self-talk shaped my outcomes. I began reframing the way I spoke to myself, shifting from self-doubt to possibility — from “I’m not sure…” to “I’ll do whatever it takes.” Over time, I trained my mind the same way you train a muscle: by consistently pushing against fear and limitation.

For me, growth came from saying yes and then scrambling to figure it out afterward. Whether it was being asked if I could play the cello for a TV audition (I couldn’t — until I learned it overnight and landed the co-starring role on ABC’s Modern Family), or being hired as the orchestrator, arranger, co-producer, and consultant for a major Disney series without ever having orchestrated before — I learned by diving headfirst into the unknown. Each of those moments became a confidence rep. After enough of them, confidence stopped being something I had to fake — it became something I embodied.

Ironically, my insecurities became my fuel. My desire not to disappoint others or look unprepared pushed me to rise to every challenge. That pressure — that “fight or flight” urgency — forced me to learn fast, to adapt, and to develop skills across so many arenas simply out of necessity. Over time, those very skills became the foundation of my confidence. In a way, “fake it till you make it” worked — because I didn’t just fake it, I became it. What began as fear transformed into faith — faith in my ability to figure things out. That’s how I built real confidence: not from thinking I’m special, but from knowing that when I commit, I will find a way.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I’m a musical artist, composer, and speaker who’s spent my life exploring how music can bring people together and awaken something deeper within us. My work lives at the intersection of art, empowerment, and transformation — blending the energy of a stadium concert with the intimacy of a healing experience.

My art isn’t entertainment to me — it’s an activation, something that opens hearts, sparks courage, and brings people together. I’ve had the privilege of working across worlds — from performing with artists like Rihanna and orchestrating for Disney, to composing award-winning scores for film — most recently earning Best Score and Best Picture honors at the Malibu Film Festival. At the core of everything I do is one purpose: to use sound and storytelling to inspire unity, compassion, and sovereignty in a world that’s often divided.

What excites me most is watching people light up — when a crowd of thousands starts singing together, or when someone shares that a song helped them through a dark time. That’s when I know the message is landing. My newest anthem, It’s Our Time (Together We Rise), originally debuted as the official song for the Independent National Convention and has since grown into a rallying cry for connection and hope. Another piece close to my heart is Refugees of Love — a song emerging as a theme of healing and reconciliation for anti-war and reconstruction movements around the world.

Beyond the music, I’m now expanding my mission into creating accessible systems that help people reduce stress, strengthen mindset, and step into greater self-empowerment. I’m developing a platform of immersive programs and guided experiences — from breathwork and meditation journeys to mindset and language training — designed to help people rewire their inner dialogue, transform self-confidence, and experience peace in the midst of chaos.

At the heart of it all, my purpose remains the same: to help heal and unite humanity through sound, story, and shared experience. Like the artists who inspired me — Michael Jackson and Bob Marley — I believe music can do more than entertain; it can move the world forward.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

If I had to narrow it down, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been self-awareness, adaptability, and courage.

Self-awareness was the first big one. When I started really observing my own inner dialogue — how much of my energy was being drained by self-doubt, comparison, or perfectionism — I began to shift it. I realized that confidence isn’t about pretending to be fearless; it’s about being honest with yourself and choosing to act anyway. For anyone early in their journey, I’d say: learn to study yourself. Notice your patterns. Catch the limiting thoughts in real time. Awareness is the foundation of transformation.

The second has been adaptability. My entire career has been built on saying “yes” before I felt ready — whether it was learning the cello overnight for the TV role in Modern Family, orchestrating 45 songs for Disney without formal training, or reinventing my music career repeatedly during massive industry and life shifts. Every new chapter has forced me to grow faster than I thought I could. The key is to trust your learning curve. You don’t need to have it all figured out — you just need to stay curious and resourceful enough to figure it out as you go.

And the third is courage. Not the loud, showy kind — but the quiet kind that keeps you moving when no one’s watching. There were times I felt completely lost, misunderstood, or outnumbered. But each time I chose courage over comfort, something incredible opened up. For anyone starting out, I’d say: don’t wait for permission. The moment you stop trying to fit in and start following what truly calls you — even if it scares you — that’s when the magic happens.

At the end of the day, success isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying awake, adaptable, and brave enough to keep saying yes to growth.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My biggest challenge right now is what I call the paradox of choice. I’m passionate about so many things — music, film, wellness, empowerment, politics, consciousness — and I have so many massive visions that sometimes the hardest part isn’t creating, it’s choosing. Learning where to focus my energy in the present moment, and how to organize, prioritize, and complete things in sequence, has been an ongoing practice for me.

I’ve realized that when you care deeply about a lot of different areas, it’s easy to end up doing “a lot of a little,” spreading yourself thin instead of going all-in on the few things that really move the needle. I’ve definitely lived that lesson. Even within music alone, I’ve always wanted to do everything — perform, produce, score films, compose symphonies — and the truth is, you can’t do it all at once.

What’s helping me now is slowing down to connect more deeply to why I’m doing what I’m doing. That “why” has become my compass. I’ve been developing systems of organization and surrounding myself with the right support team to help channel all the creative chaos into focused, actionable goals that actually get completed. The mission is still the same — to uplift and unify humanity — but now it’s about building it one focused step at a time.

For anyone earlier in their journey, I’d say: spend time understanding who you are, what your mission is, and most importantly, why it matters. When you’re clear on your why, it becomes so much easier to know where to place your energy. Without that clarity, it’s easy to spend decades doing good things that never lead to great fulfillment. Purpose creates focus — and focus turns dreams into reality.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Stephen Huntsman
John Bailey (The Bailey Perspective)
RIver Callaway
Matt Akana

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?

We asked folks a question that led to many surprising answers – some sad, some

Confidence
Being Effective Even When No One Else is Like You

Inevitably you will find yourself in a room where no one else is like you.

Confidence
Stories of Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and